Drainage fluid removing device

ABSTRACT

A flexible plastic bag is accommodated within a rigid outer vessel, and the interiors of the bag and the vessel are evacuated to draw drainage fluids through a tube into the bag. The bag with drainage fluids thus collected can then be disposed of together with the fluids.

Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,845,765

Ikeda Nov. 5, 1974 [54] DRAHNAGE FLUID REMOVING DEVICE 3719,197 3 1973 Pannier, Jr. at 111. 137 205 {751 Inventor: Yum) lkeda, Tokyo Japan 3745,99) 7/1973 Demon 128/277 I73] Assignce: Plus lka Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

Y Japan Primary Examiner-Lucie H. Laudensluger [22] Filed: Man 28, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmWaters, Roditi. Schwartz &

Nissen [2i] Appl. N0.: 345,756

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 30, 1972 Japan 47-31987 {57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 128/277 i [51 llnt. Cl A61m 1/00 A flexlble plastlc bilg ccommodatcd Wlthm 3 [5 of Search 12 27 277. 137 197 OUtCI' V6558], and the interiors Of the bag and the VSSCI 1377199 are evacuated to draw drainage fluids through a tube into the bag. The bag with drainage fluids thus col- [56] References Cited lectcd can then be disposed of together with the fluids.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,556,101 1/1971 Economou 128/277 5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNBV 5mm 3' sum 20; a

FIG.

PATENTEDNuv SIQM V SHEET? 8 ISA PATENTEUNM 5 1974 3; L so: a 845 765 FIG. 4B

FIG. 5B

PATENTEDunv 5 I974 suwwa FIG. 8

PATENTEDHnv 5 mm i saw Bar 8 FIG. I l

DRAINAGE FLUID REMOVING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to techniques for removing and temporarily collecting fluids by suction as in surgery where blood, other body excretions, medicinal fluids, and other drainage fluids are removed by a sump drain or the like, particularly a suction type device operated by motive power means or by hand.

More particularly, this invention relates to a new and advanced device for carrying out drainage as referred to above, in which negative pressure is utilized to draw drainage fluids into a receptacle of flexible material such as' a plastic bag, in which the drainage fluids are temporary accumulated, and the drainage fluids are subsequently disposed of together with and in the flexible bag.

Bodily fluid suction devices presently in use, in general, are of a type comprising, essentially a glass bottle or a rigid plastic bottle, a lid such as a rubber stopper disposed in the mouth of the bottle, a suction or evacuating device connected to one of two openings in the lid, and a suction pipe connected at one end thereof to the other opening in the lid and having the function of directly sucking drainage fluids at its other end. By operating the evacuating device to evacuate the bottle inerior, the resulting negative pressure is utilized to draw and remove the drainage fluids into the bottle. After use, the fluids within the bottle are disposed of, and the bottle is washed with water to be used again.

In this type of conventional drainage fluid suction device, the aftertreatment after the suction procedure is accompanied by problems. In the first place, the drainage fluids per se contain a large number of viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms. For this reason, persons handling these bottles are exposed to great risk of infection such as when washing the bottles or disposing of the drainage fluids in the event of bottle breakage.

Furthermore, in the event that washing and sterilization is not carried out thoroughly, some of the drainage fluid adheres to the suction bottle and gives rise to an unsanitary condition which is inconsistent with the ideal of cleanliness in parts of hospitals such as operation rooms and wards. Accordingly, the development of a safe suction vessel device for drainage and disposal of body fluids without the risk of infection has been desired by the medical world, particularly personnel, such as nurses, who directly handle such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention to provide a safe drainage fluid suction device as stated above.

More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a safe drainage fluid suction device wherein, instead of a glass bottle, a low-price disposable bag made of a flexible plastic material is used to draw off drainage fluids by suction'into the bag for temporary storage by a simple and safe procedure, and the bag thereafter is disposed of together with the fluids contained therein, the entire work being carried out without any physical contact between the operator and the drainage fluids.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device as stated above, means in and by which negative pressure is utilized to draw drainage fluids into the flexible bag, which bag is prevented from collapsing because of the high atmospheric pressure acting on its exterior surface and is held substantially in the form of a container vessel.

This object has been achieved by the device of this invention, in which there is provided a rigid vessel having strength for withstanding atmospheric pressure applied to its outer surface and adapted to contain the flexible bag therein thereby to isolate the bag from the outside atmosphere, the interior of the bag being in communication with its exterior, that is, the interior of the rigid vessel when the interior of the bag is evacuated.

According to this invention, briefly summarized, there is provided a drainage fluid suction device comprising a rigid outer vessel, a flexible bag accommodated within said outer vessel, a tube for conducting drainage fluids from a point outside of the device to the interior of the bag, and a vacuum-creating means for evacuating the interiors of the outer vessel and the bag thereby to draw said drainage fluid through said tube into the bag.

The nature, principle, further features, and utility of this invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description with respect to specific examples of suction devices illustrating preferred embodiments of this invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an embodi- I ment of the suction device of the invention in the case where, within an ordinary outer vessel, a flexible bag with open top is held and accommodated through the use of a support frame;

FIG. 4B is a relatively enlarged, fragmentary elevation, view partly in vertical section, showing an embodiment of construction of the a bag rim holder on the support frame;

FIG. 5A is an elevation view partly cut away, showing one embodiment of a flexible bag with sealed upper edge;

FIG. 5B is a similar elevation view showing another embodiment of a flexible bag with sealed upper edge;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the essential construction of one embodiment ofa support frame for supporting a bag as illustrated in FIG. 5A or 58;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view showing a modification of the bag used in this invention;

FIG. 8 is a relatively enlarged, fragmentary view in section taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a similar view in section taken along line lX-IX in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly cut away, of the parts shown in FIGS.B and9; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, with a part shown in vertical section, showing an embodiment of support means for supporting in suspended state the bag illustrated in FIG. 7 and the upper part of an outer vessel adapted to support, in turn, the support means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, the device according to this invention illustrated therein has an outer vessel structure 1 made of a rigid synthetic resin or glass and having a closed bottom and an open top, which can be closed by'a bell-like cover 2 detachably secured to the outer vessel 1 by fastening means 3. The outer vessel 1 and its cover 2 thus form a closed vessel adapted to accommodate therewithin a flexible bag 4 made ofa material such as a flexible synthetic resin and supported at its upper open end, the upper peripheral rim 5 thereof being bent outward and over the upper rim 6 of the vessel 1 and clamped between rim 6 and the lower rim 7 of the cover 2. A rubber packing or gasket 8 is interposed between the lower rim 7 of the cover and the upper rim 6 of the vessel 1 for gas tightness therebetween.

The vessel 1 is provided in its side wall at the lower part thereof with a primary suction nozzle 10 having an outwardly projecting end for connection with one end of a length of suction rubber tubing 9 connected at its other end to a vacuum pump (not shown). The interior of the vessel 1 can thereby be evacuated by operating the vacuum pump.

The space S outside of and surrounding the flexible bag 4 and formed between the outer surface of the bag 4 and inner surface of the vessel 1 is intercommunicated with the interior I of the bag 4 within the vessel 1 by a length of rubber tubing 11 connected at its lower end to the outwardly projecting end ofa secondary suction nozzle 12 in the side wall of the vessel 1 at the lower end thereof. The other, upper end of the rubber tubing 11 is connected to the outer end of a suction metal tube 14 inserted into the vessel interior through a stopper l3 fitted into a central opening in the uppermost part of the cover 2.

The inner ends of the above mentioned primary and secondary suction nozzles 10 and 12 project into the interior of the vessel 1 and have holes 10A and 12A, respectively, formed in their lower side walls. The purpose of these holes is to maintain clear passage through the nozzles even when the extreme inner tips of these nozzles abut against and are closed by the bag 4 when suction is applied.

The above mentioned stopper 13 of the cover 2 is provided with another through hole, through which a suction metal tube 16 is inserted into the interior of the vessel 1. To the upper outer end of metal tube 16, one end of a length of rubber tubing 15 for drawing drainage fluids is connected. The other, outer end of the rubber tubing 15 is provided with a suction nozzle 15A.

The lower inner tip of the metal tube 16 is inserted downward into flexible bag 4 to a level somewhat below that of the upper rim of the bag. The purpose of this is to prevent spattering of the drainage fluids onto the inner surface of the cover 2 ofthe vessel when these fluids injected through the lower end of the metal tube 16 strike the surface of any fluid already accumulated in the bag 4.

The outer vessel structure 1 is made of a transparent or translucent material so as to facilitate observation from the outside of the state of the drainage and the drainage fluids being drawn into the bag 4. Furthermore, a graduated scale 17 for indicating the volume of fluids drawn into the bag 4 is provided on the side wall of the bag.

The suction device of the above described arrangement according to this invention operates in the following manner. The aforementioned vacuum pump (not shown) is first started to evacuate the space S around the bag 4, the air being drawn out therefrom through the rubber tubing 9. As a consequence, the negative pressure of the space S draws the air within the flexible bag 4 through the communicating rubber tubing 11, whereby although the bag 4 is flexible, its interior can be evacuated without its collapse and with its shape in its original stage because there is almost no difference in the pressures inside and outside the bag.

Accordingly, it is possible to draw and temporarily store drainage fluids similar to the operation of a conventional suction device in which a glass vessel is used. Moreover, when a desired quantity of the drainage fluids has been drawn into the bag 4, the bag containing the fluids can be taken out, as it is, and disposed of together with the fluids since it is made of an inexpensive material such as a vinyl resin. Therefore, there is no necessity of washing the container vessel after use as was necessary in the case of a conventional device, and the possibility of the operator directly contacting the drainage fluids containing pathogenic microorganisms is greatly reduced, whereby the suction device of the invention affords a high degree of sanitation.

In another embodiment of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 48, a special outer vessel provided with a connection nozzle for connection to the vacuum pump and a nozzle for pressure equalization is not used, but an ordinary rigid vessel la is used to accommodate a flexible bag 4a, into which drainage fluids are drawn. As shown in FlGS. 4A and 4B, the bag 4a is supported and held in opened state by an annular member 20 over and around which the upper edge part of the bag 4a is folded outward and clamped against the member 20 by another annular member 21.

The annular member 20 is secured to and supported by a support frame 19, while the upper annular member 21 is slidably connected to vertical members of the support frame 19. The support frame 19 is mounted on a suitable base 18 resting on the bottom of the outer vessel la. The outer vessel la has a gas-tightcover 20 provided with metal tubes 14 and 16 passed through the top of the cover for connection respectively to one end of a rubber tubing 9a connected at the other end to a vacuum pump (not shown) and one end of the aforementioned rubber tubing 15 for drawing drainage fluid as in the preceding embodiment.

By this arrangement, the space S between the outer vessel 1a and the bag 4a disposed therein is communicative with the interior of the bag 4a through its upper open end within the outer vessel. Accordingly, when the interior of the outer vessel la is evacuated by the vacuum pump, the interior of the flexible bag 4a is simultaneously evacuated, whereby the negatives pressures inside and outside of the bag 4a are maintained in equalized state, and drainage fluids can be readily introduced into this flexible bag.

Since an outer vessel of special construction is not required by this arrangement, the device is simplified, and since the bag 4a containing drainage fluids can be taken out in its state of being held and supported by the support frame 19, the disposal of the drainage fluids is facilitated and can be accomplished in a sanitary and convenient manner.

In still another embodiment of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, an outer vessel similar to that in the preceding embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B is used, but, instead of a flexible bag with an open top as is used in the preceding embodiments, a flexible bag made of a material such as a platic with a sealed upper edge is used. The sealed upper edge is provided with a fluid suction inlet and one or more evacuation outlets 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. SA, the fluid suction inlet 25 of the bag 4b is provided separately from at least one evacuation outlet 26, while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the inlet 25 of the bag 4c is disposed concentrically within the outlet 26 in the form of a tube of relatively large diameter.

Each of the bags 4b and 4c shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is held in suspended state within the outer vessel, corresponding to that in FIG. 4, by a support frame 191) as shown in FIG. 6 having a cross beam 28 provided with spaced pins 29, fixedly embedded therein and inserted through matching holes 27, in the upper edge of the bag. A swinging holding plate 30 hinged at one end to the frame 1% is provided with corresponding holes 32, to receive the outer ends of the pins 29, when the holding plate 30 is swung toward the cross beam 28 to clamp and hold the upper edge of the bag 4b (or 4c) therebetween.

After a bag 4!; (or 4c) has been thus secured in place on the frame 19b, the frame 1% together with the bag is placed in the outer vessel la. The suction tube I6 is then connected to the suction inlet 25, whereby the same effect as that indicated in the case illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B is obtained. In the case where each of these bags 4b and 4c with sealed upper edges is used, however, there is no possibility of spattering, outside of the bags, of the drainage fluids being drawn into these bags. Accordingly, the interior of the outer vessel la is not contaminated by the drainage fluids. Moreover, when the bag is being taken out of the vessel la for disposal, the drainage fluids cannot readily spill out of the bag. Therefore, an even higher degree of sanitation is afforded in the operations of collecting drainage fluids in the bags and disposing of the same.

According to another embodiment of a flexible bag suitable for use in this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10, the lower end of the bag 4d is formed with a sealed edge 34, and the bag is heat sealed along a transverse line below but near and parallel to the upper edge of the bagaThis bag is also provided with a pair of holes 27d, between the upper edge and the heat-seal line 35 for mounting on the support frame.

The lower end 36 of a drainage fluid suction tube 25d extends past the heat seal line 35 and into the interior of the bag M. A bag-shaped net 37 is disposed within the bag 4d to cover the open end 36 of the tube 25d. The lateral sides 38 of this net 37 are open, and the lower edge thereof is closed. A bag-shaped plastic cover 40 is provided over the net 37. This cover 40 has an open lower edge 41. The net 37 and cover 40 on the outside of the tube 25d are secured unitarily together with the tube 25d by a heat seal along transverse line 35A. The cover 40 is further fusion bonded to the bag M by the heat seal line 35 within the bag. However, the heat seal line 35 has an unsealed part 358 between these parts, whereby a passageway 35C, as shown in FIG. 8, is formed to intercommunicate the interior and exterior of the bag 4d.

Accordingly, when a negative pressure acts on the outside surface of the flexible bag 4d, the resulting pressures are equalized through the passageway 35C. and the drainage fluids, entering through the tube 25d, enter the interior of the net 37. A portion of these fluids pass through the meshing of the net 37 as indicated by arrows in FIG. it), while the remainder of the fluid passes past the lateral open edges 38 of the net 37 and flows through the open lower edge 41 of the cover 40 into the interior of the bag 4d. During this flow of the drainage fluids, the net 37 and the cover 40 function to dissipatethe dynamic energy of the fluids entering the bag 4d thereby to cause these fluids to enter the bag gently.

A bag 4d as described above can be supported within an outer vessel 1d as shown in FIG. 11.. The vessel M has an annular step or ledge 43 around and near its upper end. A bag supporting rack 19d, which is supported on this ledge 43, has supporting members 44, joined by a cross beam 45 spanning the open upper part of the vessel Id. It is preferable to interpose an elastic pad 46 between the lower surfaces of the supporting members 44., and the upper surface of the ledge 43.

At the middle part of the cross beam 45, there is provided a jaw member 47A constituting one of a pair of jaws for clamping the tube 25d of the bag 4d, and outward from this jaw member 47A on opposite sides thereof, there are fixed support pins 48A, for engagement with the aforementioned holes 27d, in the bag 4d.

A swinging holding plate 49, similar to the aforedescribed holding plate 30 shown in FIG. 6, is swingably supported by a hinge 50 on a part of a support member 44. The holding plate 49, which is thus swingable toward and away from the cross beam 45, is provided with a jaw member 478 to function cooperatively with its mating jaw member 47A and members 48B, having holes for receiving respective pins 48A. A handle 51 for removing and carrying the bag supporting rack l9d is fixed to the supporting members 47.

At the time of use of this device with the bag 4d, the bag 4d is first suspended from the pins 48A, passed through the holes 27d, of the bag, and then the holding plate 49 is closed toward the cross beam 45, thereby clamping the upper part of the bag and the tube 25d, and the holding plate 49 is locked to the beam 45 by means (not shown). Next, the handle SE is gripped,

and the rack 19d with the bag 4d secured thereto is placed in the vessel lla'. Then, the cover 2d is secured in place on the vessel lld thereby to connect the tube 25d to a drainage fluid suction tube 16d provided through the cover 2d.

With the device in this state, the interior ofthe vessel 1d is evacuated through a suction tube 9d by means of a vacuum pump (not shown). Then, since the interior of the bag 4d is also evacuated, drainage fluids are drawn into the bag 4d similarly as in the embodiment described before with reference to FIGS. 4A and 43.

While this invention has been described above with respect to its application to suction devices for medical uses, it will be apparent that the invention is not so limited but can be applied to various uses, including those in physics and chemistry.

I claim:

1. In a drainage fluid removing device having a rigid outer vessel, an inner flexible bag with an opening, means for suspending said flexible bag within said outer vessel, a drainage fluid suction tube inserted at one end thereof into said bag, and vacuum-creating means for evacuating the interior of said outer vessel thereby to cause the pressure within the bag to be negative and to draw drainage fluid through said suction tube into the bag: an improvement wherein said bag comprises seal line means fluid-tightly closing said opening of the bag and traversing said one end of said suction tube, a flat bag-shaped net member enclosing said one end of the suction tube, and a flexible flat bag-shaped cover member enclosing said net member and said one end of the suction tube and having an opening providing communication between the interiors of the cover member and the bag, said cover member being fluid-tightly secured to said one end of the tube and to said bag by said seal line means except at an unsealed part around said one end of the tube, whereby the interior of the bag is in communication with the interior of said outer vessel through said unsealed part.

2. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said net member has a pair of lateral openings on both sides of said one end of the suction tube.

3. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening of said cover member faces in the same direction as the opening at said one end of the tube.

4. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said net member and said cover member are substantially rectangular.

5. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bag has holes by which the bag is suspended from said suspending means. 

1. In a drainage fluid removing device having a rigid outer vessel, an inner flexible bag with an opening, means for suspending said flexible bag within said outer vessel, a drainage fluid suction tube inserted at one end thereof into said bag, and vacuum-creating means for evacuating the interior of said outer vessel thereby to cause the pressure within the bag to be negative and to draw drainage fluid through said suction tube into the bag: an improvement wherein said bag comprises seal line means fluid-tightly closing said opening of the bag and traversing said one end of said suction tube, a flat bag-shaped net member enclosing said one end of the suction tube, and a flexible flat bag-shaped cover member enclosing said net member and said one end of the suction tube and having an opening providing communication between the interiors of the cover member and the bag, said cover member being fluid-tightly secured to said one end of the tube and to said bag by said seal line means except at an unsealed part around said one end of the tube, whereby the interior of the bag is in communication with the interior of said outer vessel through said unsealed part.
 2. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said net member has a pair of lateral openings on both sides of said one end of the suction tube.
 3. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening of said cover member faces in the same direction as the opening at said one end of the tube.
 4. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said net member and said cover member are substantially rectangular.
 5. The drainage fluid removing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bag has holes by which the bag is suspended from said suspending means. 